Determining the size of your patio is very important. As stated above, a large patio can overwhelm a smaller yard, and vice versa. You can figure out how large your patio needs to be by deciding on how you intend to use it and how many people it should fit. Measure the size of your yard to see how much area you are working with, how much space you are willing to allot to your patio, etc. One good tip I've come across, is to buy your patio furniture before you install your patio, arrange it where you expect your patio to be, and observe how the space is used, where people walk, etc. This will help you see just how much room is needed for walk space around the furniture, accessories, and more.

Patio chairs may very well be some of the most functional seating arrangements you can place on your patio. Whether your patio is similar to a breezy Los Angeles gazebo or a part of a luxurious waterfront condominium with walk-out to the water's edge, choosing patio chairs to complement the rest of your patio furniture is essential.

Growing plants: there are many of us who find ourselves with homes that have no gardens, but who still endeavor to grow some domestic plants. And whilst there are some indoors plants that can be grown, these don't tend to provide the 'image' we yearn for: which in most cases can only be provided by outdoors plants, grown with natural light and integrated to the natural surroundings. In the absence of a garden, the patio would be the ideal place to grow such plants. A patio tends to be semi-enclosed, meaning that the plants will get natural light and be growing in a natural setting (save for the fact that they may have to be potted). And the most beautiful thing here is the fact that using the patio to grow such plants wouldn't make it unsuitable for other purposes. If anything, it is one of the things you may need to do, in rehabilitating it to make it suitable for other purposes such as relaxing.